Crawl Space Encapsulation: Why Hire a Professional
- August 26, 2021
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If you’re reading this, chances are good you have a wet, damp, musty and smelly crawl space, and you’re looking for solutions. So are a lot of people in the Mid-Atlantic region. If you’re searching for crawl space encapsulation supplies in the hopes of turning this into a DIY project, please reconsider.
Why? Because to ensure crawl space encapsulation is done properly and thoroughly, you need to work with professionals who know exactly what they’re doing, and who are prepared for any eventuality. Professionals like our team here at Value Dry Waterproofing have the training and expertise to inspect your crawl space and come up with a customized plan of action for your home. Value Dry has been a crawl space encapsulation innovator for many years.
By attempting to handle the problem yourself, you may be inadvertently making the situation worse. At the very least, you’ll probably waste some money. An improper job will likely fail the next time you have a heavy rain and it could cost you more money to repair.
Over the years, we’ve seen a lot of DIY jobs that cut corners, used inferior materials, or just should never have been attempted in the first place. You can not half-heartedly encapsulate a crawl space. Crawl space encapsulation is a multi-step process, and if you skip any steps, you could make your air quality worse.
Signs You Need Crawl Space Encapsulation
You probably already know some of the signs that you need crawl space encapsulation, but let’s take a look at the full list. You’ll need to peer into your crawl space as well as smell and look around inside the first floor of your home to find these signs. They include:
- Standing water in your crawl space
- Mold/mildew growth in your crawl space or right above it (Look up! Your floor joist and insulation may be rotting!)
- Wet or falling insulation in the crawl space
- A musty smell in your home more noticeable on hot, humid days
- Soft, separating or warping flooring
- Window condensation
- High cooling costs
- Cold floors in the winter above the crawl space
- Pest infestations
A visual inspection may reveal one or more of these signs. Doing nothing will exacerbate the problem. Attempting a DIY job is like treating the symptoms without curing the disease.
Crawl Space Encapsulation, Explained
Crawl space encapsulation is the process where we evaluate, manage foundation seepage, seal, and properly ventilate and/or condition your crawl space. It involves much more than just stapling some plastic sheeting to your foundation walls and covering the crawl space floor.
As part of the process, we may recommend installing one or more sump pumps to remove standing water, as well as installing a crawl space conditioning system and a dehumidifier or ventilation device to reduce and manage moisture levels and airborne particulates. It all depends on the extent of the water intrusion problem and existing conditions in your crawl space.
RELATED READING
Professional Crawl Space Encapsulation in 7 Steps
Crawl Space Encapsulation Cost
The cost of a professionally encapsulated crawl space will depend on a number of factors. These include:
- The size of your crawl space
- The extent of water intrusion
- If crawl space repair is needed
- Who you hire to do the work
- What materials they use for the vapor barrier, as well as dehumidification and ventilation
At Value Dry Waterproofing, we use high quality materials and products to help ensure you get the best and longest-lasting crawl space encapsulation system. Our goal is to help you protect your home’s structural integrity, improve indoor air quality, and give you peace of mind.
RELATED READING
How a Crawl Space Dehumidifier and Crawl Space Exhaust Fan Protect Your Home
How to Reduce Heating Costs with Crawl Space Encapsulation
Schedule a FREE Crawl Space Inspection
If you have a crawl space and your home smells musty, it’s because of the bare earth in your crawl space. This allows groundwater to seep up and into your foundation and even into your floor joists and drywall.
The best long-term solution for a damp or wet crawl space is professional crawl space encapsulation. Just call (888) 768-2583 or fill out the online form and our office will get in contact with you to schedule your FREE crawl space inspection, followed by a free estimate.
We serve homeowners throughout Maryland, northern Virginia, DC, as well as Kent and Sussex counties in Delaware. In most cases, we can complete your encapsulation project in 2-5 days.